"Well! what then?"
"In the first he notified you that in certain events he should withdraw to Goïto."
"Yes, General."
"Did you reply to that letter?"
"Certainly."
"What did you reply?"
"Do you wish to know?"
"I should like to hear what you said."
"Very well! I replied, 'Retreat to the devil, if you like; I don't care; but I'll shoot myself rather than retire.'"
"Do you know that if you had written me such a letter as that I would have had you shot?"